Effective methods for treating osteochondrosis at home

As is known, osteochondrosis is a chronic pathology caused by degenerative changes in the structure of the spine. Unfortunately, 8 out of 10 people among the adult population suffer from osteochondrosis.

The pathology can begin in youth (20-25 years), gradually becoming complicated with new manifestations. In general, lumbar, thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis are distinguished.

Symptoms of the disease

Osteochondrotic lesions of the cervical spine are characterized by:

• Dull pain in the neck and back of the head (cervicalgia);
• If the vertebral artery is damaged, the activity of the nerve centers responsible for the normalization of pressure indicators is disrupted, then hypertension is often a concomitant pathology of osteochondrosis;
• During the development of cervical osteochondrosis, compression of the spinal artery occurs, which causes the appearance of symptoms such as extraneous sounds in the ears, dizziness and visual disturbances, painful paroxysmal headaches;
• Heart pain radiating to the shoulder blade and neck, similar to the pain of angina pectoris.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms:

• Severe pain resulting from compression of the roots of the spinal nerves, as well as the venous-arterial pathways that supply nutrition to the spinal cord;
• When the lower lumbar roots are affected, the disease is accompanied by shooting pain along the outside of the legs, which results in a decrease in the sensitivity of this area;
• Often lumbar osteochondrosis manifests itself with a shooting pain that goes from the lower back to the legs, later this symptom is replaced by a decrease in sensitivity of the lower limbs;
• With the development of complications in the form of intervertebral hernia, manifestations such as weakness of the legs, lower back pain, decreased muscle tone and sensitivity of the legs, and weakness of the leg muscles (paresis) occur.

Manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• In upper lesions, pain is observed in the abdomen, chest, shoulder and scapula;
• Lower lesions are accompanied by a decrease in sensitivity of the lower thoracic vertebrae, accompanied by dysfunction of the pelvic organs. When you move or sneeze, the pain increases;
• In rare cases, thoracic osteochondrosis causes spinal compression, characterized by localized pain radiating to the intercostal space, abdomen, groin or lower extremities, weakness and numbness of the legs, and disturbances in the activity of the pelvic organs.

Treatment options

A whole series of therapeutic techniques is used in the treatment of osteochondrosis:

1. Pharmacological therapy;
2. Physiotherapy (massage procedures, physical therapy, etc. );
3. Diet therapy;
4. Corrective therapy;
5. Ethnoscience;
6. Surgery.

How to treat cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis at home

Each of the methods of antiosteochondrosis therapy is aimed at relieving pain with its subsequent elimination, normalizing the course of vertebral structural processes and restoring radicular spinal activity.

Pharmacological therapy

Drug therapy for osteochondrosis is based on several areas:

1. Symptomatic therapy aims to eliminate pain and involves taking anti-inflammatory drugs. Along with anti-inflammatory drugs, patients are prescribed muscle relaxants from the group of muscle relaxants;
2. The treatment aimed at normalizing blood circulation involves the use of vasodilators;
3. Restorative therapy of cartilage tissue is based on the use of chondroprotective drugs;
4. Vitamin therapy is based on taking vitamin complexes;
5. Treatment with antidepressants is used to relieve anxiety and depressive states, which often occur in patients in a context of limited movement and pain of osteochondrosis origin.
6. Therapy with herbal preparations often helps to significantly alleviate the condition of patients, as such medicines restore immune defense, sleep and strength of the body, and prevent depression.

Physiotherapeutic activities

Very effective in the fight against osteochondrosis are physiotherapeutic measures that:

• Helps eliminate pain syndrome;
• Increase the breadth of motor skills;
• Improve and facilitate the course of immune processes;
• Normalize blood circulation;
• Normalize metabolic processes;
• Provide a reduction in the therapeutic dosage of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics.

Physiotherapy has many varieties. In anti-osteochondrosis treatment the following is often used:

1. Electrotherapy involves carrying out procedures associated with the influence of electric current, such as electrophoresis, galvanization, electrosleep, darsonassessment and others using special devices;
2. Shock wave therapy is carried out with devices that convert an electrical impulse into an ultrasonic wave, which, acting on the spine affected by osteochondrosis, accelerates the healing of damaged bone and cartilage tissue, eliminates pain and swelling;
3. Balneotherapy involves the use of mineral waters and muds, after exposure to which blood flow improves, pain is relieved and material metabolism normalizes;
4. Magnetotherapy - this device is based on the use of a constant magnetic field created by special inductors which are positioned on the affected vertebral areas;
5. Laser therapy is based on the use of special lasers which, by acting on the affected tissues, contribute to their restoration.

All physiotherapeutic methods provide symptomatic treatment of osteochondrosis, relieve inflammation and pain, reduce the course of treatment and dosage of drugs taken.

Diet

Since antiosteochondrosis therapy is complex, it requires a rationally balanced diet.

For patients suffering from this disease it is extremely important to limit the intake of liquids, salt and simple carbohydrates. They need to remove from the diet:

• Alcohol;
• Beverages such as cocoa, coffee and strong tea;
• Pickles and spicy dishes;
• Products too rich in extractive substances (mushrooms, fatty fish, poultry, meat, etc. ).

Since osteochondrosis causes the destruction of intervertebral cartilage, their restoration requires animal proteins, which are rich in dairy products, lean fish or meat.

For these patients, jellied meat or broth prepared from boiled bones of beef or pork legs is especially useful. This broth is rich in collagen, which provides additional strength to bone and cartilage tissue.

Exercises to improve health

Therapeutic exercises play an equally important role in the treatment of osteochondrosis; Furthermore, it is considered the most effective method to combat the destruction of bone and cartilage cells, helps strengthen muscle and joint tissues, ensures mobility of the spine and helps in bone restoration. damaged tissues.

When performing physiotherapy exercises, several simple conditions should be observed:

1. The movements should not cause severe attacks of pain or any discomfort; if such an effect occurs, it is necessary to discuss the situation with a doctor;
2. It is not possible to perform exercises during periods of exacerbation of the disease, otherwise the painful symptom may increase or complications may develop;
3. It is necessary to perform the exercises smoothly, avoiding sudden movements.

The set of necessary exercises is selected by the doctor based on the patient's condition and the degree of development of osteochondrosis.

Massage

Massage procedures help improve blood circulation and have a relaxing effect on the patient's muscles. The massage begins with light caresses, then moves on to rubbing and kneading. The massage can be done with your hands or using special objects such as jars.

Cupping massage for osteochondrosis helps to relieve muscle tension and activate metabolic processes in the affected tissues due to improved blood and lymph flow. Acupressure, which consists in influencing active spinal points, has no less therapeutic effects.

ethnoscience

Traditional medicine, which has many recipes for various rubs and compresses, can also help in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Thanks to folk remedies that increase blood flow, it is possible to relieve pain and relax muscles.

These tools are based on:

• Essential oils (fir, etc. );
• melted pork lard;
• Camphor alcohol;
• Badger fat;
• Honey;
• Bee venom, snakes;
• Roots and medicinal herbs such as aloe, birch leaves or horseradish, garlic, ginger, chili pepper.

They are combined with alcohol, iodine and turpentine, which cause a local irritating effect. Mustard baths (200 grams of powder per water bath) are great for relieving sudden acute pain.

Orthopedic accessories

A good addition to home treatment of osteochondrosis would be the use of orthopedic accessories that ensure complete relaxation of the spine during night rest.

Therefore, while sleeping, it is necessary to assume a correct and comfortable body position.

High-quality orthopedic mattresses and pillows can help with this. Thanks to the use of such devices, the spine will be completely relaxed during the night, eliminating symptoms and improving the patient's condition.

Osteochondrosis can be treated independently, the main thing is to observe the regularity, consistency, complexity of the procedures and coordinate all actions with a specialist.